Johnson, S.C., and Son Administration Building and Research Tower
Corporate headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin. Added to the National Register in 1974, and a National Historic Landmark.
What it is
The Johnson Wax Headquarters is the corporate headquarters of the household goods company S. C. Johnson & Son in Racine, Wisconsin, United States. The original headquarters includes two buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright: the Administration Building, completed in April 1939, and the Research Tower, completed in November 1950. The headquarters also includes the Golden Rondelle Theater, relocated from the 1964 New York World's Fair, in addition to Fortaleza Hall and the Commons, a memorial to Samuel Curtis Johnson Jr. Both of the original buildings were widely discussed on their completion, and they have been depicted in several exhibits and media works. In addition, the original headquarters received the American Institute of Architects' Twenty-five Year Award and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 1525 Howe St., Racine, WI |
| County | Racine County |
| Listed | Dec 27, 1974 |
| Listed for | Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 74002275 |
| Architect | Frank Lloyd Wright |
| Type of place | corporate headquarters, skyscraper |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark, Tentative World Heritage Site |
| Contributing resources | 2 buildings |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 1525 Howe St., Racine, WI |
| Coordinates | 42.7135° N, 87.7908° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Racine | 45 listed places in Racine → |
| Nearest national park unit | Pullman National Historical Park · 71 miles · on Park Atlas |
Explore
Map
Nearby in Racine County
Local history books for Racine
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Guidebooks to historic places and travel in Wisconsin
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Johnson, S.C., and Son Administration Building and Research Tower listed on the National Register?
Dec 27, 1974. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Who designed Johnson, S.C., and Son Administration Building and Research Tower?
Frank Lloyd Wright.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Johnson, S.C., and Son Administration Building and Research Tower?
Yes. Johnson, S.C., and Son Administration Building and Research Tower is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is Johnson, S.C., and Son Administration Building and Research Tower?
1525 Howe St., Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin. The nearest national park unit is Pullman National Historical Park, 71 miles away.
Source: Pullman National Historical Park
What does the Johnson, S.C., and Son Administration Building and Research Tower listing include?
The listing counts 2 contributing resources. Those are 2 buildings. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.
Source: National Park Service
Where is the nomination form for Johnson, S.C., and Son Administration Building and Research Tower?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Is there cell service at Johnson, S.C., and Son Administration Building and Research Tower?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 74002275. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.